Written Answers Monday 13 September 2010

Scottish Executive

Cancer

Dr Richard Simpson (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive which cancers are not audited for the purpose of determining whether they meet the cancer waiting times targets, broken down by (a) regional cancer network and (b) NHS board.

Nicola Sturgeon: In answer to this question we will note which cancers are audited. There are no regional or NHS board differences, so the following are valid across NHSScotland. All monitoring is for new diagnoses only, not recurrent disease. The cohorts are applicable for patients treated from 1 July 2010.

  There are three different cohorts monitored against cancer waiting times targets:

  1. All patients with a diagnosis of acute myeloid leukaemia or acute lymphoblastic leukaemia, biphenotypic or bilineal acute leukaemia are audited against a target of one month (31 days) from referral to treatment.

  2. All patients aged under 16 diagnosed with cancer (ICD-10 C00-C96, excluding C44 M-809 (basal cell carcinoma)) are audited against a target of one month (31 days) from referral to treatment.

  3. The following cancer types are monitored against the two targets announced in Better Cancer Care, namely 62 days from urgent referral with a suspicion of cancer to first treatment and 31 days from decision to treat to treatment:

  

 Tumour Type
 ICD-10 Codes Included


 Breast 
 C50, D05 


 Colorectal 
 C18-20


 Head and Neck 
 C00-14, C30-32, C76.0


 Lung 
 C33-34


 Lymphoma 
 C81-85


 Melanoma 
 New primary invasive (i.e. Clark level > 1) melanoma of any site except eye. Includes C43 (Skin) Proven secondary melanoma where the origin of the primary lesion has never been identified.


 Gynaecological
 C53, C56, C48 (only if ovarian type), D39.1


 Upper gastro-intestinal
 C15-16, C17.0, C22-25


 Urology
 C60-68

Constitution

Mike Rumbles (West Aberdeenshire and Kincardine) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what the latest cost to date has been of the (a) National Conversation and (b) draft referendum Bill and associated white papers, including the costs for (i) publishing, (ii) consultation, (iii) marketing and advertising and (iv) other.

Bruce Crawford: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-30747 on 25 February 2010. The latest cost to date of the core programme of Scottish Government National Conversation events and publications, including branding and staging, remains around £400,000. We do not hold the costs broken down into the categories requested.

  The total cost of printing and publication of the draft Referendum Bill consultation was around £8,000. This figure includes a Gaelic and a British Sign Language translation.

  The member will also be aware of the published costs of approximately £625,000 incurred by the UK Government and the Scottish Parliament to support the work of the Commission on Scottish Devolution.

  All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/Apps2/Business/PQA/Default.aspx.

Employment

Ms Wendy Alexander (Paisley North) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what conditions have been attached to the award to Hewlett-Packard of £7 million in Regional Selective Assistance support.

Jim Mather: Payment of the £7 million Regional Selective Assistance (RSA) grant will depend on progress of the project. RSA is payable in instalments only after job and capital expenditure targets are met.

Employment

Ms Wendy Alexander (Paisley North) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many of the planned 700 jobs at Hewlett-Packard arising as a result of the award of £7 million in Regional Selective Assistance support are primarily related to call centre activity.

Jim Mather: None of the planned jobs at Hewlett-Packard are related to call centre activity.

Employment

Ms Wendy Alexander (Paisley North) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive over what period will the planned 700 jobs at Hewlett-Packard arising as a result of the award of £7 million in Regional Selective Assistance support will be created.

Jim Mather: For large RSA projects of this size, jobs are typically created over a four to five year period.

Enterprise

Ms Wendy Alexander (Paisley North) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether the award to Hewlett-Packard of £7 million in Regional Selective Assistance support will be given in step with the promised 700 jobs being created.

Jim Mather: Regional Selective Assistance payments to Hewlett-Packard will be made in instalments as progress is made towards their overall job target.

Ferry Services

Tavish Scott (Shetland) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what target cost savings it has asked the study by BM Consulting and Reference Economic Consultants into cost reduction measures on the Northern Isles ferry services to achieve and how the target was determined.

Stewart Stevenson: No target cost savings were set as part of this exercise. The consultants were simply tasked with assessing the potential impacts a number of cost reductions measures, if implemented, would have in Orkney and Shetland.

Prison Service

Cathy Jamieson (Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-35004 by Kenny MacAskill on 21 July 2010, whether it will outline the different ways in which HMP Kilmarnock and HMP Addiewell are seeking to reduce reoffending.

Kenny MacAskill: I have asked John Ewing, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service, to respond. His response is as follows:

  Both HMP Kilmarnock and HMP Addiewell contribute to the reduction of re-offending by offering a range of programmes aimed at reducing offending by prisoners. At Kilmarnock this is based on a more traditional industrial and occupational model, whereas Addiewell provides a more educational based regime, operating as a learning prison with all purposeful activity designed to have a learning element.

Prison Service

Cathy Jamieson (Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-35004 by Kenny MacAskill on 21 July 2010, whether it will outline the different ways in which HMP Kilmarnock and HMP Addiewell offer value for money.

Kenny MacAskill: I have asked John Ewing, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service, to respond. His response is as follows:

  Both HMP Kilmarnock and HMP Addiewell contracts have been drawn up to deliver value for money and the performance measurement system for each ensures that this is achieved in respect of actual performance.

Prison Service

Cathy Jamieson (Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-35004 by Kenny MacAskill on 21 July 2010, whether it plans to assess the differences between the contracts for operation of HMP Kilmarnock and HMP Addiewell regarding (a) value for money and (b) reduction in reoffending.

Kenny MacAskill: I have asked John Ewing, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service, to respond. His response is as follows:

  The Scottish Prison Service has no plans to assess the differences between the contracts for HMP Kilmarnock and HMP Addiewell. The service specification for both prison contracts is output based and contractors are assessed with regard to value for money and reduction of re-offending in measuring performance against the contract requirements for each prison.

Prison Service

Cathy Jamieson (Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive when the Cabinet Secretary for Justice last met the Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service to discuss the performance of HMP Kilmarnock.

Kenny MacAskill: I have asked John Ewing, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service, to respond. His response is as follows:

  It is the responsibility of the Scottish Prison Service to monitor the performance of HMP Kilmarnock. That performance has been satisfactory and I have no cause to discuss the matter at my regular meetings with the Cabinet Secretary.

Prison Service

Cathy Jamieson (Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive when the Cabinet Secretary for Justice last met the Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service to discuss the performance of HMP Addiewell.

Kenny MacAskill: I have asked John Ewing, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service, to respond. His response is as follows:

  It is the responsibility of the Scottish Prison Service to monitor the performance of HMP Addiewell. That performance has been satisfactory and I have had no cause to discuss the matter at my regular meetings with the Cabinet Secretary.

Rail Network

Patrick Harvie (Glasgow) (Green): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it plans to consult on the future use of the additional capacity in the rail network between Glasgow and Paisley.

Robert Brown (Glasgow) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has undertaken, or plans to undertake in the near future, the consultation on the future use of the new third track between Glasgow and Paisley as the major part of the Paisley Corridor Improvement (PCI) works, as reported in The Herald on 15 March 2010 and, if not, for what reason.

Stewart Stevenson: We can confirm that there will be consultation on the revisions to the Ayrshire and Inverclyde rail passenger timetables, brought about as a consequence of the additional capacity arising from the Paisley Corridor Improvements project. This process has not yet commenced although it is envisaged that this will happen late autumn 2010 to enable implementation during the course of the winter 2011 timetable revision. As you will be aware there is a requirement for timetable options to have been worked up to a sufficient level of detail to demonstrate that they are: operationally and economically viable; and in the case of timetables for the ScotRail franchise, that they accord with the wider aspirations of the Scottish Government in delivering its overarching purpose, to increase sustainable economic growth, before they are taken to consultation.

  The consultation process referred to is the standard industry process related to the development and implementation of changes / revisions to passenger rail services. As is industry practice the consultation will involve key industry stakeholders (e.g. Network Rail, Regional Transport Partnerships (RTP) etc) and rail user groups (e.g. Passenger Focus). These stakeholders do have the rail user’s interests at the foremost of their minds and due to their composition, e.g. as RTPs have local councillors sitting on their various committees, they are generally seen as representing the views of local constituents.

Rail Network

Patrick Harvie (Glasgow) (Green): To ask the Scottish Executive whether the proposed rail timetable for Ayrshire and Inverclyde passenger services will require changes to the Glasgow Airport Rail Link Act 2007.

Stewart Stevenson: No. The Glasgow Airport Rail Link Act (2007) authorises the construction and subsequent maintenance of certain specified "authorised works" associated with railway infrastructure. Operational railway timetables are a matter for Network Rail Infrastructure Limited under the network code.

Rail Network

Robert Brown (Glasgow) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what the current position is regarding the Paisley Corridor Improvement (PCI) works.

Stewart Stevenson: Works on the PCI project continue on schedule and budget. Key delivery milestones which have been reached are:

  1. The commissioning and bringing in to use of two new platforms (platforms 12 and 13) at Glasgow Central Station in May 2010. The introduction of these two new platforms had an immediate positive impact upon reliability and capacity at what is Scotland’s busiest railway station.

  2. Award of the three main contracts for the delivery of the PCI project by Network Rail:

  a. Invensys – signalling and telecommunications,

  b. Balfour Beatty – main line design and build and

  c. Invensys – signalling controls.

Rail Network

Robert Brown (Glasgow) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it is aware of Transport Scotland’s plans to use the powers of the Office of the Rail Regulator to change the statutory documents relating to the Paisley Corridor Improvement (PCI) works.

Robert Brown (Glasgow) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what its position is on asking a UK authority to circumvent the decisions made by the Scottish Parliament in the Glasgow Airport Rail Link Act 2007 by amending the statutory documents relating to the Paisley Corridor Improvement (PCI) works and, if so, whether it considers that this has constitutional implications.

Stewart Stevenson: The PCI project is being delivered by Network Rail Infrastructure Limited in accordance with the rights and obligations conferred by the Glasgow Airport Rail Link Act (2007) and its supporting documentation.

  Transport Scotland has no plans to change the Act, any proposed changes being a matter for the Parliament.

  However, for clarification, should there at any time in the future be a change to the Act or its supporting documents, e.g. Code of Construction Practice (CoCP), then the cost and schedule implications on the PCI project would be considered and quantified under the Office of Rail Regulations "Change Control Process". Noting that in the case of the CoCP, the Act sets out at Schedule 9, the mechanism by which that document may be amended from time to time.

Rail Network

Robert Brown (Glasgow) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will provide greater detail on the likely capacity of the third Paisley Corridor Improvement (PCI) track, in light of claims that it is likely to have an extra four trains per hour in comparison with the original Glasgow Airport Rail Link’s (GARL) proposal of an extra six trains per hour.

Stewart Stevenson: The original proposal for the GARL passenger service, as envisaged in the "Glasgow Airport Rail Link Bill - Promoters Memorandum" was as follows:

  DETAILS OF THE PROPOSED SCHEME

  14. The proposed scheme is shown schematically in Figure 1. The scheme (referred to hereafter as GARL) will provide a new rail service between Glasgow Central Station and a new station to be provided at Glasgow Airport. This will allow air passengers, airport employees and other travellers to reach the airport in a fast (16 minute journey time), frequent (4 trains per hour), reliable, high capacity and modern service. It will bring the airport within 1 interchange stop of 143 rail stations in west Scotland and via Glasgow Central and Paisley Gilmour Street bring the benefit of good airport accessibility and related economic benefit to the whole region.

  The winter 2011 timetable revisions resulting from the West of Scotland railway investment programme, which includes the PCI project, will future proof the Paisley corridor in terms of capacity provision. The extent to which that additional capacity will be utilised incrementally over the coming years forms part of the current timetable development activity.

Rail Services

Elaine Smith (Coatbridge and Chryston) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether there is European legislation that prevents it or Transport Scotland directly and permanently operating ScotRail services once the current franchise expires and, if so, what that legislation is.

Elaine Smith (Coatbridge and Chryston) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether there is European legislation that prevents an arm’s length publicly owned company from directly and permanently operating ScotRail services once the current franchise expires and, if so, what that legislation is.

Elaine Smith (Coatbridge and Chryston) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether there is UK legislation that prevents it or Transport Scotland directly and permanently operating ScotRail services once the current franchise expires and, if so, what that legislation is.

Elaine Smith (Coatbridge and Chryston) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether there is UK legislation that prevents an arm’s length publicly owned company from directly and permanently operating ScotRail services once the current franchise expires and, if so, what that legislation is.

Elaine Smith (Coatbridge and Chryston) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether there is Scottish legislation that prevents it or Transport Scotland directly and permanently operating ScotRail services once the current franchise expires and, if so, what that legislation is.

Elaine Smith (Coatbridge and Chryston) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether there is Scottish legislation that prevents an arm’s length publicly owned company from directly and permanently operating ScotRail services once the current franchise expires and, if so what that legislation is.

Stewart Stevenson: The provision of rail passenger services in Scotland is regulated by UK and European legislation. A primary aim of the legislation is to ensure that the right to provide such services is open to competition. Scottish Ministers as franchising authority must therefore invite tenders under the UK Railways Act 1993.

  That Act prevents a range of public bodies, including Scottish Ministers and their Executive Agency Transport Scotland, from being the franchisee and also prevents such bodies operating the franchise through a company controlled by them.

  Section 30 of the Railways Act makes Scottish Ministers responsible for securing ScotRail services in the absence of a franchisee, until a replacement can be secured.

Roads

Peter Peacock (Highlands and Islands) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what improvements to the A95 are planned in 2010-11.

Stewart Stevenson: Structural maintenance works were completed at A95 Poppin Brae, Craigellachie during May 2010. These works, to the value of £0.36 million, were necessary to address a geotechnical failure of the carriageway foundations and earthwork slopes.

  Improvements to the signing, safety barriers and upgrading of large sign poles are also planned, with the aim of improving safety along the route.

Roads

Peter Peacock (Highlands and Islands) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what improvements to the A95 are planned in (a) 2011-12 and (b) 2012-13.

Stewart Stevenson: A carriageway realignment scheme is proposed for Lackghie, east of Drumuillie. The scheme consists of the widening, horizontal and vertical realignment of 2km of single carriageway, bringing it up to current design standards through the investment of £3.2 million.

  There are proposals to undertake structural maintenance works at A95 Craigellachie to Wester Gauldwell and drainage improvements at A95 Ben Aigan.

  Funding for road improvements beyond the current financial year will be determined from the forthcoming spending review.